Annually, 100 million clothing items are produced worldwide, and 92 tons of clothing end up in landfills yearly. Fast fashion is harming the planet and affecting the success of small businesses. Western culture has grown to become materialistic and wasteful. Our brains are conditioned through advertisements and social media to follow the latest fashion trends, which sometimes feel unavoidable.

Websites like Shein and Amazon capitalize on these fast fashion trends by producing trendy styles made out of cheap materials. These clothes are not made to last and are a huge contributor to the items thrown away at the end of the year. Annually, 700,000 tons of these disregarded clothing items are transported to other countries. US authorities have made agreements and pressured East African Countries to allow the exportation of used clothing, even though it harms local businesses. 

I have been a victim of the fast fashion industry, but moving forward with a sustainable mindset has made me rethink my shopping habits. Recycling clothing, thrifting and buying from small businesses are great ways to find unique clothing items that will last. Paying for a few clothing items from Shein that will break before the end of the year is wasteful, whereas buying a slightly more expensive item that will last for years is more beneficial for you and for the planet. Next time you need some new clothes, think about where you are buying from and consider alternative options that support clothing sustainability. 

Sources:

https://theroundup.org/textile-waste-statistics/

https://time.com/6247732/shein-climate-change-labor-fashion/

https://www.greenamerica.org/unraveling-fashion-industry/what-really-happens-unwanted-clothes